Portable air cooler



Oct. 8, 1957 J. M. GARCES 2,808,711

PORTABLE AIR COOLER Filed July 17, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 l Atm-Myx l IN1/EN TOR.

Oct. 8, 1957 J. M. GARCES 2,808,711

PORTABLE AIR COOLER Filed July 17, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 8, 1957 J. M. GARCES PORTABLE AIR COOLER Filed July 17,1956

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ju'l/o M. Garces INVENTOR.

BY IWW 5mg:

PORTABLE AIR COOLER Julio M. Garces, New York, N. Y. Application July 1.7, 1956, Serial No. 598,410

Claims. (Cl. 62-131) This invention relates to a portable air cooling device and more particularly to a portable air cooler which is convertible from a room air conditioner to an automobile air cooler.

An object of the present invention is to provide a convertible air cooler which is of simple mechanical construction and which is practical for use either as a room air cooler or a motor vehicle air cooler, there being only a very simple alteration required to adapt the air cooler to either of these uses.

A further object of the present invention is to provider improvements in the means in the cooling chamber for cooling the air stream as it is propelled from a Warm air inlet to the cooled air outlet of the device. This is accomplished by having a cooling air tank located in the refrigerant chambernand, in addition to the cooling air tank, a reservoir tank arranged to bleed air into the warm air as it is withdrawn from the surrounding atmosphere, whereby it is precooled. In addition, the reservoir tank is arranged to deliver a part of its vair supply to the inlet air as it passes through the throat of the air conducting means in the air conditioning device.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a portable room or automobile air cooler which preferably, but not necessarily, utilizes ice in a refrigerant chamber to cool air propelled through the chamber'but isolated from the refrigerant, this being achieved by having what is considered to be a novel system and network of air conducting conduits, throat, tanks and lines arranged to provide a very high degree of satisfaction in cooling the air as it flows through the room air conditioner.

These together with other objects and advantages which wiil become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is an elevational View of the room or automobile air inlet side of a portable air conditioner or cooler made in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is an elevational View of the opposite side of the portable air cooler of Figure l;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken approximately on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentaryv sectional view showing-a part of the air circulatory system of the air cooler; Y Y Figure 6 is an elevational view showing partially schematically and partially in section the manner of applying an attachment to the air cooler of Figure l in order to convert the air cooler into an automobile air conditioner;

Figure 7 is a top view of the air scoop and means to attach the air scoop to the motor vehicle, these being illustrated in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a schematic representation showing afurther 2,808,711 Patented ocr. s, 1957 ice V 2 suggested manner of attachment of the air conditioner to a motor vehicle; v

Figure 9 is an elevational view of a coupling illustrating a further modification in the manner of attachment of the cooler in a motor vehicle.

In the accompanying drawings there is a portable air cooler 10 constructed in accordance with the invention. The air cooler is made of a housing 12 having a handle 14 to facilitate carrying from one place to another. Housing 12 has a warm air inlet 16 and a ,cooled air outlet 18 in walls 20 and `22 thereof. The top of housing 12 is open with hinged cover 24y being located thereon to facilitate entry to the refrigerant chamber 26. This chamber is formed by casing 28 which is bolted or otherwise attached to housing 12. VIn order to derive maximum insulationvalue from the housing 12, the casing 28smay be supported therein by means of a number of small brackets 30 which hold the casing 28 spaced from all of the Walls ofl the housing. A liner of insulating material, as cork liner 32, is disposed in casing 28. A different insulation 34 is placed on the cork liner 32 and may be of ber glass, refractory material or other high insulating value substance. Closure 36` for the casing 28 has a similar arrangement of insulating layers and is held fast in place by means of quick disconnect latches arranged to pull the closure 36 tightly on gasket 38 located between the upper edge of casing 28 and the confronting edge of the closure 36. Crimped surfaces on Vthe confronting edges provide for a better seal between the closure 36 and the casing 28. f m *i i Although other refrigerants may be used in refrigerant chamber 26, successful operation hasbeen obtained with crushed or cubed ice 40. Accordingly, ice is illustrated as being a possible refrigerant. i v

The Warm air inlet 16 is formed by an aperture 42 in wall 20 of housing 12, behind which there is an air cup 44 with an openrend in registry with aperture 4t2v and an opposite open end 46 fitted inrcollar 48. ",This collar is externally threaded and disposed in opening 50 formed in a wall of the casing 28. VNut 52 is located on collar 48 and holds a compressible seal 54 packed tightly in a stepped seat Aformed in the vcasing Wall. Throat 56 is in registry with collar 48 and has a flange 58 at one end seated on gasket 60v at the innerextremity of the collar. Nut 62 holds the flange 58 tightly assembled on gasket 60 and is formed as a part of sleeve 64. Throat 56 is in the form of a converging nozzle and functions as such in delivering air into annular inlet 66 of cooling air tank 68. Cooling tank 68 has a corrugated side wall in order to present as large an area as possible to the refrigerant in chamber 26. A generally conical baffle 70 proceeds inwardly of the throat 56 and inlet 66 in order to assure smooth flow intol the annular entrance 72 of cooling tank 68. The cooling tank has an annular discharge end '76 which opens into collar 64, the latter functioning as a manifold feeding Ia plurality of at air conducting tubes 80. Each tube is substantially U shaped and is preferably at in cross section., Thereis an inlet end for each tube 80, theinlet endbeing in registry with an opening, for example, opening 81 (Figure 3), in the collar 64 and having its opposite end in registry with an opening, for example, opening 82, in the collar 83.

Collar 83 is in registry with the ,discharge outlet 18 for the cool air and has a closed inner wall 86. This inner wall is provided with a conical baffle 87 for flow straightening purposes and has a group 0f openingsSZ in its side wall. Each of the openings '82. is in registry with the outlet end of one of the tubes 80, thelatter being embedded in the ice refrigerant.

An externally threaded collar 88 is loc-ated in an openthere being a gasket 90 between these two members in order to make them liquid and air tight. Annular nut 91 is also threaded on the collar 89 and compresses a gasket 924i. a'tepaediseat meneame-89; v f

As the air passes through cup 44 it discharges through` sleeve 66 andinto the cooling -air tank 68. Thereafter, itpasses throughthe discharge -end 76 of this cooling tank and into the collar 64. --Then, it issues throughV the tubes 80 and ultimatelyV passes through the n outlet 18. During `this coursek of;l procedure, some of the air in passing through the discharge end 76 of tank 68 passes into a reservoir tank 95 having the wall 96Which is .preferably corrugated `in'thesame manner as they previously mentioned Wall of Vtanktand practically concentricallyfarjrangedvtherewith; This reservoir tank stores some v-of thecooler air inthe air cooler in order to be applied intosleeve v66 at approximately the point of entry'ofV the'air from throat-56. This is achieved by having collar 97 iittedjon the throat S6 with a bell mouth 98 at one end sulciently Wideto provide an air passage 100 between it and the wall of sleeve 66. Accordingly, as :shown by the arrows Yin Figure 3, a smaller stream of cooler air from the reservoir tank 95 is admixed with themain stream passingjthrough throat 56. In cect, some `of the air which passes throughthe cooling air tank 68 is recirculated through `the reservoirtank.

An additional quantity of this cool air from the reservoir tank 95 is passed through bleedline 102 (Figure 5) in the form of a small Vair-duct 104 which opens into the air stream at the discharge end 76 of the cooling air tank 68 and which extends practically to the mouth of cup 44 where it terminatesin nozzle 106 directed radially of the cup. This, also, is for precooling the air in the main inlet air stream. Precooling-is also achieved by having the throat 5,6 inrheat exchange relationship to the reservoir tank 95 and collar 97.v Although the duct 104 may be made in many Ways, at `tubing connected by soldering or other means to the throat 56 and cup 44 is effective.V V

' When beingrused as a room air conditioner, motor 120 mounted in the cupl 44 is suggested. This motor has an electrical cord and switch and drives a propeller preferably located in the cup 44. An apertured mounting plate 122 which supports motor 120 is bolted as at 124 to the housing 12. An air lter 126 is attached to the plate 122. In using the air cooler as a device to reduce the air temperature in a room or other stationary enclosure, the casing 28 is lilled with a refrigerant, preferably ice, completely covering the tubes and the cooling tank 68. n Casing 28 and housing 12 are closed and the electric motor is energized. This will draw a stream of room air through the filter 126 and into the air chamber which includes cup 44. The air is passed into the throat 56 and from there passes through tank 68 which is the principal heat exchange device for cooling the air. Thereafter, it passes through the discharge end at 76 thereof, into the group of tubes 80 for admission into the outlet collars in longitudinal alignment with the Ycooled air outlet 18. The cooling process commences as the air travels through collar 48 and throat 56. There will be a marked cooling -of the air stream as it travels through the main cooling air tank 68 and the reservoir tank 95.Y `As the cool air Vleaves the cooling tank 68 and comes in contact with collar 97, acertain amount of air'will strike the collar 97 .in order to divert it into the reservoir tank'95, but with a diminished force. The unretlected cool air stream will travel-through the vtubes 80 as described previously. When going through these tubes, the4 'air is further cooled prior to its discharge through outlet 18.

YThe importanceof the reservoir tank 95 kis emphasized atv this time. -The above -mentioneddeected cool air tends toV Vaccumulate and be temporarily'` heldV in the reservoir tank 95. A constantY air stream deflected in this manner will cause Van overowvof cool airso that it returns for admixing with thejmainair-stream as `this main air stream enters the sleeve 66. As the fresh air stream leaves the throat and passes into the tank, a suction is formed in the space between the reservoir tank and the throat, and it is this suction that will draw in the cool air overow which mixes and immediately cools the freshly drawn air into the cooling tank. This movement causes a continuous .circulatory cool air stream path in the cooling tank to the reservoir tank and back to the cooling tank. There will al'so be an uninterrupted tlow of the undeected'cool air. stream through the plurality of pipes 88. A certain amount of this cool air escapes through the bleed line 102 and is aided by the blower driven by motor 120 to be mixedwith the main inlet air stream for precooling the same.

In order to convert the room air cooler to a motor vehicle attachment for cooling the interior thereof, motor and its mounting plate 122 are removed. In their place there is an attachment 130 (Figure 6) applied to theair cooler. This attachment consists of an air scoop 132 having a lilter 134 in the inlet thereof and having a nipple 136 connected therewith. This nipple passes through a yielding Ymaterialbody 138 which may be made of rubber or plastic. The upper surface of body 138 is formed with ribs 139 and 140 which t in the groove 142 of channel 144 of the motor vehicle Window. This channel normally accommodates the window 146, keeping the upper edge of the window Weather tight.` The lowerpart o f -the body 138 has a slot 148 -to accept the upper edge of the window 146, thereby holding the air scoop 132 and its body 138 firmly in place on the motor vehicle. Any ofV the vertically moving Windows ofthe motor vehicle may be selected to accommodate the air scoop structure. f

.Hose connections 150, vcapable of conducting air, are connected to nipple 136 and it is preferred that one or; more of the hoses Yin thehose assemblyV be llexible to facilitate the positioning of the air conditioner in aconvenient place in the motortvehicle. Mounting plate 152, which is substantially identical to mounting plate 122, is` bolted or otherwise attached in registry with the inlet 16 of the air coolerj10. This mounting plate has a divergent .nozzle 156 supported by it and in which a lter may be accommodated. A quick disconnect coupling 158 is attached to one of the hoses of the hose assembly and to the divergent nozzle 1,56. Accordingly, attachment 130 constitutes a Vmeans for delivering air under pressure into the air cooler, as does the motor 120 and its associated structure. Y

Alternate means for delivering air under pressure to the air cooler may be resorted to without departing from the invention. For example, Figures 8 and 9 depict another suggested installation. YHere, the motor vehicle is provided with an air duct 160, this being standard equipment for the motor vehicle and a part of the heater and defrost arrangement. Also included is the fan casing 162 with which air cooler 10 is operatively'connected by means of coupling 166. This coupling is in the form of a -lexible bell 168 attached by suitable means, as suction cups 170, onto the outer surfaceof the discharge conduit 176* from fan casing 162. stallation, the defroster and/ or fresh air inlet distributor in the motor vehicle is removed or at least disconnected in order to accept bell 168. Air delivered from the fan casing 162 passes through coupling V166 Vand an air conduit 180 which is arranged in registry With the inlet of the air cooler 10. This maybe by way otra diverging nozzle identical to that shown in Figure 6 or by other attachments.

Except for the use of theheater and/or defrosting equipment of a motor vehicle or the attachment 130 as a source of inlet air under pressure, the operation of the air cooler in 'a motor vehicle is identi-cal to the operation described previously Yin connection With room |air conditioning. In `each instance, however, replenishment with fresnretrigerant vmayl @accomplished .byirstremov- In this type of ining the accumulated water in the retaining tank with a syphon or other device.

The foregoing is yconsidered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling Within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows;

1. A convertible automobile and room air conditioner `comprising -a housing having a Warm air inlet and a cool air outlet, a refrigerant chamber in said casing, a throat in said chamber land in communication with said inlet, a cooling air tank -in said chamber and air tubes establishing an air path from said throat to said outlet, an air reservoir tank in said chamber and arranged to deliver cool air into said cooling air tank prior to discharge into said tubes.

2. A convertible automobile and room air conditioner comprising a housing having a warm air inlet Iand a cool air outlet, a refrigerant chamber in said casing, a throat in said chamber and in communication with said inlet, a cooling air tank in said chamber and air tubes establishing an air path from said throat to said outlet, at least a part of said cooling tank being in heat exchange relationship with said throat in order to precool the air as it passes through said throat.

3. A convertible automobile and room air conditioner comprising a housing having a warm air inlet and a cool air outlet, a refrigerant chamber in said casing, a throat in said chamber land in communication with said inlet, a cooling air tank in said chamber and air tubes establishing an air path from said throat to said outlet, a cool air bleed line extending from said reservoir tank to a point downstream -of said warm air inlet and upstream of said throat in order to precool the inlet air.

4. The convertible air conditioner of claim 3 wherein there are means in said warm air inlet to supply air under pressure.

5. A device for cooling air in an enclosure, said device comprising a housing, a casing disposed in said housing, means insulating the walls of said casing, a refrigerant chamber in said casing, van air inlet in said housing and said casing, means including a converging throat arranged to deliver air into said casing, Ia cooling air tank having an inlet adapted to be fed with air from said throat and an outlet through which the cooled air is adapted to pass, a plurality of tubes in said chamber land exposed to the refrigerant therein, a manifold having the inlet end of each tube operatively connected with it and arranged in registry with the outlet end of said tank, said tubes having outlet ends in registry with the outlet for cooled air.

6. A device for cooling air in an enclosure, said device comprising a housing, a casing disposed in said housing, means insulating the walls of said casing, a refrigerant chamber in said casing, an air inlet in said housing and said casing, means including a converging throat arranged to deliver air into said casing, a cooling air tank having an inlet adapted to be fed with air from said throat and an outlet through which the cooled air is adapted to pass, a plurality of tubes in said chamber and exposed to the refrigerant therein, a manifold having the inlet end of each tube operatively connected with it and arranged in registry with the outlet end of said tank, said tubes having outlet ends in registry with the outlet for cooled ai-r, a cooled air reservoir tank within said cooling air tank, means arranged between said tanks to divert a part of the air stream passing through the discharge end of said cooling tank into said reservoir tank, and means for conducting air from said reservoir tank into the main air stream as it leaves sai-d throat for re-entry into said cooling air tank.

7. A device for cooling air in an enclosure, said device comprising a housing, a casing disposed in said housing, means insulating the walls of said casing, a refrigerant chamber in said casing, an air inlet in said housing and said casing, means including a converging throat 4arranged to deliver air into said casing, a cooling air tank having an inlet adapted to be fed with air from said throat and an outlet through which the cooled air is adapted to pass, a plurality of tubes in said chamber and exposed to the refrigerant therein, a manifold having the inlet end of each tube operatively connected with it and arranged in registry with the outlet end of said tank, said tubes having outlet ends in registry with the outlet for cooled air, a cooled air `reservoir tank within said cooling air tank, Ymeans arranged between said tanks to divert a part of the air stream passing through the discharge end of said cooling tank into said reservoir tank, and means for conducting air from said reservoir tank into the main `air stream as it leaves said throat for re-entry into said cooling air tank, a bleed line having one end arranged to draw some of the cooled air from one of said tanks and to discharge the bled air into the main air stream prior to its entry into said throat.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein there is a cup in registry with said throat and the inlet opening of said housing, and detachably mounted means for delivering air under pressure into said cup for passage through the cooling device.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein at least one of said tanks has a corrugted wall to present a larger area to the air stream as it passes therethrough in order to have the air stream surrender its heat.

10. A portable air cooling appanatus for an enclosure such as a room or motor vehicle, said apparatus comprising means enclosing a refrigerant chamber which has an inlet and an outlet, a nozzle forming a throat which is in registry with said inlet, -a cooling tank into which said nozzle discharges, a plurality of tubes operatively connecting said cooling tank with said outlet and located in said chamber in order to'be exposed to the refrigerant therein, Iand means located between said tubes and said nozzle for recirculating a portion of the main air stream as said tubes are fed with the lair from said nozzle and for delivering said portion of said air stream into said tubes.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

